Today’s Fractured Clichés pay tribute to Easter and highlight two traditions I had never experienced before coming to Chicago.

On Fat Tuesday, Chicago celebrates Pączki Day. A Pączki is a deep fried Polish pastry with a sweet filling. It’s such a big deal that people line up outside bakeries early in the morning to purchase them before they’re sold out. The traditional reason for making them was to use up the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house because Catholics couldn’t eat them during Lent.

The second Chicago tradition is the pepper and egg sandwich. In case you haven’t heard of it, the pepper is green – not black. If you practice dietary restrictions during Lent, it’s a great alternative to fish.

If you celebrate Easter, have a good one. If you don’t, I hope you’ve been eating whatever you want. I tried a Pączki stuffed with pepper and egg.